Sustainable Fashion Brands I Love

I’ve written before about how the majority of my shopping lately is thrifting. For me it’s the most inexpensive and most fun way to shop sustainably. But when I need a new staple piece in my wardrobe that I can’t find in the thrift store, these are a few of my favorite trusted brands to shop from.

I included this helpful chart above because “sustainable” is often used interchangeably with “ethical” or “slow” fashion. These brands might focus on different aspects of “sustainable style.” Overall these are brands I feel good supporting when I need to buy new clothes. Please leave me a comment and let me know your favorite brands! I’m always looking for more.

Shop the tote here: HarperSage

Shop the tote here: HarperSage

Harper Sage

HarperSage is a brand I have been lucky enough to work with. They are closely involved in every step of making their clothes and their factory in India is owned and run by women. Their brand mission is to create pieces that are soft and strong, feminine and cool, foe you to mix-and-match. Plus they have a passionate fire for helping victims of human trafficking. I can’t recommend them enough.

Everlane

Everyone’s favorite sustainable style brand. The OG. My very first intentional “ethical” fashion purchase was from Everlane, and their Market Tote still carries my entire life in it on the daily, three years after I got it.

tentree

Tentree, like the name implies, plants ten trees for every item sold, and so far has planted over 45 million trees! Their clothes are cute, cozy, and exactly what you’d want to wear hiking in the woods that you’re helping to plant.

pact

Pact has a wide array of fair-trade, organic cotton basics for the entire family, including this tunic that is soon to be part of my fall wardrobe.

Parade

Parade is another company that I regularly partner with, and I am obsessed with their body positive and brightly-colored brand. They have every color, style, and size you need and they’re all $9.

levi’s

This one surprised me when I first started researching sustainable brands, but get this—it takes 2,000 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans. Levi’s has making jeans down to a science, and they use 96% less water with their WaterLess collection.

Athleta

Athleta uses recycled materials in 60% of its clothing items, with a goal to make that 80% in 2020. It is also B Corp certified, meaning it “meet [s] the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.” Source

Reformation

Like Everlane, Reformation has established itself as a go-to brand for sustainable style. This is where you look first when you need a dress for an upcoming wedding, graduation, to look cute on Insta, or to “accidentally” run into your ex.

Shop the classic silk scarf in “Champagne”

Shop the classic silk scarf in “Champagne

liya Collective

Liya Collective is a new brand that makes minimalist and versatile sustainable accessories. They just launched their first collection of the most beautiful silk scarves. They gifted me one back in the summer and there are endless ways to wear it!

mejuri

Mejuri has taken over social media, and I’ll admit I was drooling over their Croissant ring before I got it as a birthday present. They’re committed to producing fine jewelry without the mark-up. From their website: “we vet and partner with top jewelers who commit to exceptional craftsmanship, ethical practices and the finest materials.”

gldn

Another sustainable jewelry brand I love, Gldn jewelry is hand-made with 90% recycled metals. The brand originally caught my eye with their “Hannah Necklace,” which has become one of my favorite and most-worn items.

What is Sustainable Style?

what is sustainable style?


A few years ago, I started thinking seriously about how my clothes are made. Capsule wardrobes were very trendy and I loved the idea of a curated closet. I was also starting to gain a little more social awareness of how negatively the fast fashion industry affects the environment and the people making the clothing. If I’m buying a t-shirt for $2, how little is the person making that t-shirt getting paid?

But I quickly discovered that a rigid, minimalist wardrobe wasn’t for me. I fell into the rut of wearing the same black jeans, sweater, and boots combo all winter. It felt more like having a uniform and I quickly became bored of the clothes I owned. 

I started to do a little more research into the impact of the fashion industry and learned that: 

  • Consumers bought 60% more garments in 2014 than in 2000, BUT only kept the clothes for half as long.

  • 85% of all textiles end up in a landfill each year.

  • Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity's carbon emissions.

  • It’s estimated that 35% of microplastics in the ocean come from washing synthetic textiles such as polyester.

Source


What does that mean for me as a consumer?


I started looking into ways to reduce my environmental impact through my fashion choices. I didn’t want to squash my self-expression in the way that I felt having a capsule wardrobe was forcing me to, but I didn’t want shopping to be such a guilt-ridden activity as it was quickly becoming. I realized I have a lot of options and they’re a lot more varied and fun than just owning 5 shirts and 5 pairs of pants and wearing them on an endless rotation.


Thrifting

My grandma has always been notorious in my family for being able to find designer items and brand new clothing with tags at Goodwill. I always admired that skill from afar but didn’t think I had it in me. With a little bit of practice thrifting has become my favorite way to find one-of-a-kind items. And by purchasing used items I’m not contributing to the waste produced by creating new clothes, and preventing used clothes from ending up in a landfill. 


Shopping sustainable brands

Sustainable brands used to scare me. As a broke college student the idea of spending $60 on a sweater from Everlane when I could buy a $15 sweater from Forever 21 stressed me out. However, I realized that long-term I was actually saving myself money, which brings me to my next point...


Quality over quantity 

By buying high-quality clothing made from fabrics that are build to last, I reduced the total amount of clothing I bought overall and curbed my impulse-buying habit. I started investing in my wardrobe and saving myself money long-term. Think about it: $40 for a new pair of boots every winter vs. $200 for a well-made pair of boots that lasts 10 years.


Repair instead of replacing

And what happens when you get a tear in your favorite jacket that is supposed to last through the next five winters? If it was cheap from a fast fashion chain, it’s very tempting to just buy a new one. With investment pieces it makes more sense and is more sustainable to get it fixed. And if you don’t want to spend the money on having someone else do it, it’s easy enough to learn simple sewing to fix rips or replace a button. 


I hope this post was helpful! Let me know your favorite sustainable and ethical brands by leaving a comment below. 

— Hannah

Holiday Gift Guide

Christmas is just around the corner and Black Friday sales are here! This time of year can definitely get overwhelming, and my goal when I’m gift shopping this year is to shop small and sustainable with a less-is-more mindset. I’ve compiled a list of gifts from companies I love and support and tried to keep different love languages in mind: some people get really excited about an actual present wrapped up with a bow, but many of us are going the Marie Kondo route and trying to minimize how much stuff we own. If you know someone like this and aren’t sure what to get them, there are plenty of gifts that don’t take up space and still spark joy.


Disclosure: a few of these links are affiliate links where I earn commission if you shop with me.


Clothing:

Everlane Day Market Tote

Everlane Day Market Tote

Everlane is one of my all-time favorite brands to shop from. They’re committed to running ethical factories, they’re one of the best brands for basics, and I’m always impressed with the quality of their clothes. The Day Market Tote is the perfect present for moms, students, or women who like to fill their purse with snacks (it’s me). It’s so roomy and the stitching has lasted years on mine. And if that’s not enough to convince you, Her Royal Highness Meghan Markle also owns this bag.

Impossibly chic and sustainable

Impossibly chic and sustainable


Jewelry:

Mejuri is currently hosting their only sale of the year, with 10% off one item, 15% off two items, and 20% off three items. ✨

Mejuri is currently hosting their only sale of the year, with 10% off one item, 15% off two items, and 20% off three items. ✨

Mejuri is handcrafted jewelry without the traditional mark-up. It’s delicate and unique, timeless but also trendy. Don’t wait for Santa to get your new favorite ring—buying gold for yourself is encouraged.


Makeup:

These beauty basics are perfect for your little sister or any makeup beginner. They’re foolproof favorites that have been in my makeup bag for years—the absolute best for brows, lips, and eyes.


Massage:

Elements Massage Mechanicsburg Black Friday special: 2 one-hour gift cards for $139 (regular price $179)

Elements Massage Mechanicsburg Black Friday special: 2 one-hour gift cards for $139 (regular price $179)

The new owners of Elements Massage in Mechanicsburg invited me to try a massage at their revamped location and I am hooked. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who needs more calm instead of more clutter, I recommend a massage. Maybe throw a manicure in there too and make it a whole self-care day because the holiday season is stressful.


Cooking Class:

Chilean Seabass from Cornerstone Culinary Kitchen

Chilean Seabass from Cornerstone Culinary Kitchen

Earlier this year I took a cooking class with Chef Chuck LaPorta at Cornerstone Culinary Kitchen in Camp Hill. If you know me you know how much I love to eat, but I also had the best time learning new techniques from the Chef (and I felt like I was on the Food Network).